Opening Day FAQ: Braves vs. Phillies
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PHILADELPHIA -- The Braves believe they can win the World Series in 2024.
The Phillies do, too.
But Philadelphia knows almost nobody thinks it is better than Atlanta, which is once again favored to win the National League East.
The Braves have been one of baseball’s truly elite teams since they won the 2021 World Series. They won 101 games in ‘22 and 104 games in ‘23. They seemed primed for another World Series championship, but the Phillies ended each of their past two seasons with resounding beatings in the NL Division Series. Few will forget Bryce Harper staring down Orlando Arcia (“Atta boy, Harper!”) after homering twice in Game 3 of the ‘23 NLDS.
Atlanta hopes to start another World Series run on Opening Day at Citizens Bank Park, which was moved to Friday due to anticipated rain on Thursday. (Nobody will remember the past two postseasons if the club wins it all this year.) The Phillies hope a strong showing in their season-opening series against the Braves will get them off to a good start, which has eluded them each of the past two years. A good start could propel Philadelphia into a real race for the NL East, which Atlanta has won the past six years.
Regardless of who wins the division, it is easy to imagine these teams playing again in the postseason.
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When is the game and how can I watch it?
Opening Day is Friday at 3:05 p.m. ET at Citizens Bank Park. Fans can follow on MLB.TV and Gameday on MLB.com. The Phillies will broadcast the game on NBC 10 and 94 WIP. The Braves will broadcast on Bally Sports South and 680 AM/93.7 FM The Fan.
What are the likely lineups?
Braves
- Ronald Acuña Jr., RF
- Ozzie Albies, 2B
- Austin Riley, 3B
- Matt Olson, 1B
- Marcell Ozuna, DH
- Michael Harris II, CF
- Sean Murphy, C
- Orlando Arcia, SS
- Jarred Kelenic, LF
Phillies
- Kyle Schwarber, DH
- Trea Turner, SS
- Bryce Harper, 1B
- Alec Bohm, 3B
- J.T. Realmuto, C
- Bryson Stott, 2B
- Nick Castellanos, RF
- Brandon Marsh, LF
- Johan Rojas, CF
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Who are the starting pitchers?
Braves: Spencer Strider, RHP (20-5, 3.86 ERA in 2023)
Strider has a 1.90 ERA in eight regular-season appearances (seven starts) against the Phillies, but he has lost each of his three postseason starts against them. The Braves right-hander has produced an MLB-best 483 strikeouts over the past two seasons. Gerrit Cole ranks second with the 479 strikeouts he tallied while throwing 91 1/3 more innings than Strider during this span. This is Strider’s first career Opening Day start.
Phillies: Zack Wheeler, RHP (13-6, 3.61 ERA in 2023)
Wheeler will make the first Opening Day start of his career. He signed a three-year, $126 million contract extension earlier this month. He got the deal because he has been one of the Majors’ best pitchers over the past four years. He is 43-25 with a 3.06 ERA in 101 starts since joining the Phillies before the 2020 season. It is the fourth-best ERA in the Majors in that time (minimum 500 innings), trailing only Corbin Burnes (2.86), Max Scherzer (2.94) and Shane Bieber (2.98). Wheeler's 19.6 bWAR and 19.3 fWAR over the past four years are the best in the big leagues among pitchers. He also has a 2.42 ERA over the past two postseasons, which is the sixth-best in MLB history (minimum 10 postseason starts).
How might the bullpens line up after the starter?
Braves: Closer Raisel Iglesias will have A.J. Minter, Pierce Johnson and Joe Jiménez serving as his primary setup men. Minter, Aaron Bummer, Tyler Matzek and Dylan Lee give manager Brian Snitker multiple options to create left vs. left matchups against Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper.
Phillies: If the Phillies have a lead late, manager Rob Thomson will deploy his relievers based on matchups. He will pick from his five most-trusted relievers: left-handers José Alvarado, Gregory Soto and Matt Strahm, and right-handers Jeff Hoffman and Seranthony Domínguez. Alvarado and Hoffman are most likely to close, but it really depends on how the game unfolds.
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Any injuries of note?
Braves: None.
Phillies: Right-handers Taijuan Walker (right shoulder impingement) and Orion Kerkering (illness) did not make the Opening Day roster.
Who’s hot and who’s not?
Braves: Arcia led the Braves in home runs (four) and had a .692 OPS this spring.
Kelenic, the club’s new left fielder, started the spring 3-for-42 but has started generating results with the new swing he developed over the past week.
Phillies: Wheeler allowed only two runs in 14 1/3 innings this spring. He struck out 14 and walked three. Wheeler entered camp trying to throw a splitter for the first time in his career. It proved to be an effective pitch, and he plans to throw it often.